A quick guide to the NYS High School Basketball Championships

I’ve spent the better part of this week preparing for this weekend’s New York State high school boys basketball championships in Glens Falls. I will be calling the action with my man Tom Huerter again this year on Time Warner Cable Sportschannel. The games will be televised across the state and this tournament is annually one of my favorite events I broadcast.

The quality of play when you get to this point in the state playoffs is usually pretty strong and the intensity from these teenagers as they play for a state title is always off the charts.

I also enjoy the games because I don’t have a dog in the fight so to speak. Unlike a Siena game where I actually feel a little down if the Saints lose, it doesn’t matter to me who wins these high school games. I have no attachment to any of the schools.

Rather, I’m just hoping for a high level of play and a close game and more often than not, that’s what we get.

The semifinals start this morning at the Civic Center and from my rather extensive research on the teams, here are some interesting notes on some of the teams involved this weekend.

I’ll start in Class D, the smallest classification. I’m interested to see top-ranked and undefeated Argyle and their star Joey Lufkin. Listed at 5-foot-9, he has eclipsed 2000 points in his career and is Section 2’s leading scorer this season.

Courtesy: Glens Falls Post-Star

However, I’m even more interested in seeing University Prep from Rochester. The Griffins are quite the story. This is U-Prep’s first year with a varsity basketball program. Repeat, first year. And they are in the state Final Four. With a roster filled entirely with eighth, ninth and tenth graders, the Griffins are nonetheless two games away from the title.

I spoke with U-Prep’s head coach Raheem Miller on the phone about his team. Miller played football at Michigan State and graduated in 2000. His coach? None other than current college football kingpin Nick Saban, now at Alabama.

In Class C, Moravia has advanced to Glens Falls. Did you know Moravia, located southwest of Syracuse , is the birthplace of the 13th President of the United States, Millard Fillmore? You do now!

I’m looking forward to watching Silver Creek’s star Zed Williams. Silver Creek is located near the Cattaraugus Indian reservation southwest of Buffalo and many of the team’s players are Seneca Indians.

Williams is not only the best player on the basketball team, but he is one of the best lacrosse players in the country. He is headed to perennial power Virginia on a full ride next year to play lacrosse. That’s no joke right there. As a junior, he broke the state’s points record held by former Syracuse great Casey Powell.

Moving up to Class B, Batavia reached this point in very exciting fashion. A player named Jeff Redband hit a three pointer at the buzzer to beat the state’s top-ranked team Olean. There’s a good chance Olean had never heard of Redband. He was called up from the junior varsity team for the game and his name had to be written in handwriting on the rosters before the game. From the JV to one of SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays.

Section 2’s Watervliet is probably the favorite in Class B despite their deceiving 16-8 record. The Cannoneers had to forfeit five games for having an ineligible player and their three losses on the court were all against state-ranked Class A schools.

A sentimental favorite might be Section 11 champion Babylon. The Babylon community was hit extremely hard by Hurricane Sandy and some players still are not living in their homes. Many players after the storm had to move in with other players’ families. The community rallied around the school’s sports teams and both the football and boys basketball teams won the Long Island championship this year.

While the semifinals still have to be played, Class A is shaping up as a possible showdown between the last two Class B state champions.

Goshen’s Burke Catholic is making its fourth straight trip to Glens Falls, but its first as a Class A school. The Eagles have not lost to a school in their section since 2010 and won the Class B title in 2011.

In the finals, a possible matchup with Bishop Ludden of Syracuse may await. The Gaelic Knights won the Class B title last year and are coached by 26th-year head man Pat Donnelly, who will be inducted into the state basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday.

Finally, in Class AA, the largest classification, some big-time recruits will be on display.

Local favorite Troy will have its hands full with Bishop Kearney from Rochester. Two Division I recruits will square off as Siena-bound Javion Ogunyemi leads Troy against Syracuse recruit Chinonso Obokoh and Bishop Kearney. The Kings also have another high-major recruit on their frontline, 6-9 sophomore Thomas Bryant.

Interestingly, both these schools are playing up in class. In New York, you can play at a higher level than your school is classified at, but you cannot play at a lower level. Troy is a Class A school playing in AA. Bishop Kearney is actually a Class C school playing in AA. It should be a great semifinal matchup.

Love that you dropped some Moravia knowledge in the blog! Some family have a summer home on one of the finger lakes in Moravia. Another fun fact: Millard Fillmore was the first US president to put a bath tub into the White House. To celebrate, the town has an annual “bath tub race”.

Good luck to all the kids playing this weekend! A great event. Looking forward to seeing JO in action against other legit D1 big men.